Should one abandon diligent study and reduce its time to devote oneself to worship, or is seeking knowledge considered a form of jihad for which a Muslim is rewarded, like performing night prayers, taking into account the importance of gaining social standing to serve the religion and live by the prophetic hadith: "A strong believer is better than a weak believer"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Worldly study with the intention of benefiting Muslims transforms into an act of worship for which one is rewarded, especially if it is a communal obligation (fard kifayah). Its reward then becomes immense, surpassing the supererogatory acts of worship. It is possible to reconcile study and supererogatory acts of worship by organizing one's time and seeking Allah's help. If it is impossible to combine them, prioritizing diligence in study, especially communal obligations, is more deserving, because its benefit extends to others, while not abandoning the struggle to perform what is easy from supererogatory acts of worship.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/158385
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- 158385
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy